To really hate it when atheists take the piss out of those who believe in God?

I have several FB friends who are obvious atheists, and often share things about science and/or about the concept of God being stupid -basically saying that anyone who believes in God is an idiot, a child (with an 'imaginary friend') or someone who has no idea about science and the universe.

I get that not everyone has faith in a higher being/religion etc but why the childish name calling and the necessity to take the piss out of those who do? It just really irritates me! Belief in God and an appriciation of science are not mutually exclusive. I find it quite offensive that people who don't know my personal beliefs are essentially saying that if I believe in God I must be an idiot or a child who believes in magical sky fairies, because theres no possible way I can believe in evolution (for example) and be an agnostic.

Aibu to think that people should just let others believe what they want to believe without mocking them for it, even if they don't agree with it?

Are they actually taking this piss and mocking you? (If so of course that is wrong) Or are they just posting links to artciles about science? That you have chosen to believe means they are saying your an idiot with an imaginary friend.

YANBU it irritates me too and I am a humanist. It seems a very negative attitude and to spring from quite an insecure place. OTOH, I think critiquing the behaviour of some organized religions (say the Magdalen laundries) is quite in order. But we don't have to mock people's beliefs to do that, it's what they DID that was reprehensible. In private, with like minded people I might roll my eyes at what to me are outlandish beliefs but I would never do so in the company of believers.

I'm not a Christian, though I do have a religion. I love a story our headmaster told in assembly once.

A family of mice lived in a piano. One day, one of them went off to find where the beautiful music was coming from. He saw the strings vibrating, went back to his family and told them, and they were satisfied. Then one day another mouse went to see what was making the strings vibrate. He saw the hammers hitting the strings, went back to his family and told them, and they were satisfied.

Also, there are such an incredible amount of religious posts that are anti-gay, abortion, trans etc. Why shouldn't the atheists post their beliefs?

Here's part of the problem for me. You've just lumped every religious person together. Not all religions support that. Not all religions require a belief (or a literal belief) in a god/ess. The term 'religious' covers huge range of different faiths and belief systems.

In my experience, when atheists talk about religion they generally mean the monotheistic, patriarchal religions.

It’s a sense of deep frustration that produces an unpleasant level of spite. My child was regularly told to close his eyes and be quiet during “prayer time” at his nodenominational primary school while everyone thanked an entity he didn’t believe in for things that he knows damn well their mothers provided.

He was told off for not filling in the “how our family celebrates Easter” homework sheet. (We don’t)

Christianity used to be the default position in this country and you’re not any more. But our education system is still pushing the Christian agenda. Atheists are getting sick of having to reassure our children that the devil isn’t real and people do t rise from the fucking dead. And I’m afraid it comes out as mocking the lack of critical thinking and excessive doublethink that goes into being part of organised religion.

And I know you’re going to say that the school incidents “shouldn’t happen”, and you’re right, they shouldn’t. But they do.

Op, I do get what you mean. I wouldn't dream of saying atheism is a load of rubbish or is for people who can't see beyond their own noses, but some atheists and humanists seem to think it is acceptable to say this type of thing about people of faith.For what it is worth, there are many scientists who are Christians, just working quietly away in universities, hospitals and research establishments, just as there are others of no faith or other faiths. Are all the atheists really better scientists than those with a faith?

I'm an atheist, i find the concept of a God ridiculous, illogical and rankly bizarre. It makes no sense of any kind. If i want to say so, I can do. Just as you can say the opposite. I have friends who are religious, I respect them and their rights to their beliefs. I don't respect the actual beliefs, but won't tell them my opinion unless they specifically ask.

I have people on my FB who go on about loons who believe in sky fairies and the like while (quite rightly) espousing tolerance towards people of non-Christian religions. No irony whatsoever. Lots of these avowed atheists, who are so vocal about how thick people must be to believe in imaginary friends in heaven, also believe in ghosts.

I've no time for religious extremism or fuckwittery of any stripe, but faith is a complex thing and people should be able to practice it without fear of mockery. There's no room in the world for Westboro-style fucknuggets - but most Christians aren't Westboro-style fucknuggets.

Because religion and god is a construct.It enabled us to move from trible/city states to large countries/empires. With a common belief, in conjunction with a group to work against, humans can be ralled into one group of taxpayers and empires can be built.

This is what mass religion was really about. So now that we have consumerism/capitalism as a driver, religion has become somewhat redundant. Ergo some people will think is it pointless.

If you like it, crack on. But you have to accept other people's viewpoints. Your's are not sacrosanct. You don't have to engage in a debate, but they are allowed their opinion.

One of the issues is that being a Christian (or follower of most other religions to be honest) is, to a greater or lesser extent, a pic'n'mix exercise with little or no theological underpinning.

You get Christians that are fine with women bishops, same sex marriage and contraception. You also get Christians that believe in male headship, complementarianism, hating gay people, and that IVF for childless couples is against Gods wishes.

When the same term/belief is so far apart it is very easy to mock because it doesnt mean anything as a coherent structure.

Religions also try to claim a high level of privilege - we are special because we are religious. Which is just mince.

We also have positions that need to be backed up with evidence, argument, debate and even disagreement. So, for example, I believe that pretty much every Brexiter is xenophobic and lacks a basic understanding of the EU, democracy and sovereignty and I will mock them for that. However, many Brexiters believe they are correct and will mock back. Its how unreasoned debate flows.

People are welcome to practice their faith when it stops impacting me and my children. When Christianity holds the same status as Hinduism in this country, I will feel kindly towards them. While Christians get to dictate school holidays, school syllabus and medical law, I will complain vigourously. If you want to be taken seriously and have your opinions held as fact, you must be able to prove it. So it is in science, so it should be everywhere

I think it's probably quite healthy to have the debate though and some tactless remarks towards the religious don't really stack up much against the wars and persecution committed in the name of religion .

I'm Catholics and a lot of Atheist posts I see, clearly have no idea about Catholicism! They just think it's anti this, anti that.....and no clue how inclusive it actually is. Although for me, it's almost too much effort to even explain it to them as they aren't interested and it really doesn't affect what I believe

And I’m totally fine with people thinking religion is utter rubbish. But the religious people I know largely go about their business quietly. Wish I could say the same for the performance atheists of social media. 🙄